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Abstract:

A power management device cooperated with a plurality of computing units
and a plurality of power supply units is disclosed. The power supply
units provide the power source to the computing units through the power
management device. The power management device includes a detecting
module and a control module. The detecting module is operatively
connected with the computing units, and detects a total consumption power
of the computing units. The control module is operatively connected with
the detecting module and the power supply units, and adjusts the
operation amount of the power supply units providing the power source to
the computing units in accordance with the total consumption power. In
addition, a high performance server and a power management method are
also disclosed.

Claims:

1. A power management device, cooperated with a plurality of computing
units and a plurality of power supply units, wherein the power supply
units provide a power source to the computing units through the power
management device, the power management device comprising: a detecting
module operatively connected with the computing units for detecting a
total consumption power of the computing units; and a control module
operatively connected with the detecting module and the power supply
units for adjusting the operation amount of the power supply units
providing the power source to the computing units in accordance with the
total consumption power.

2. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein each of the
computing units comprises a server main board.

3. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the control
module comprises a micro control unit or a micro processor.

4. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the
detecting module detects the total consumption power of the computing
units and outputs a detecting signal to the control module.

5. The power management device according to claim 4, wherein the control
module further comprises: a memory unit storing at least a default value;
a comparing unit operatively connected with the memory unit and the
detecting module for comparing the default value with the detected value
so as to output a comparing signal; and a control unit operatively
connected with the comparing unit and the power supply units for
adjusting the operation amount of the power supply units in accordance
with the comparing signal.

6. A high performance server, comprising: a plurality of computing units;
a plurality of power supply units used to provide power source to the
computing units; and a power management device, wherein the power supply
units provide the power source to the computing units through the power
management device, and the power management device comprises: a detecting
module operatively connected with the computing units for detecting a
total consumption power of the computing units, and a control module
operatively connected with the detecting module and the power supply
units for adjusting the operation amount of the power supply units
providing the power source to the computing units in accordance with the
total consumption power.

7. The high performance server according to claim 6, further comprising:
a plurality of fan modules operatively connected with the control module
of the power management device.

8. The high performance server according to claim 7, wherein the control
module adjusts the operation amount of the fan modules in accordance with
the temperature of the computing units.

9. The high performance server according to claim 6, wherein each of the
computing units comprises a server main board.

10. The high performance server according to claim 6, wherein the
detecting module detects the total consumption power of the computing
units and outputs a detecting signal to the control module.

11. The high performance server according to claim 6, wherein the control
module further comprises: a memory unit storing at least a default value;
a comparing unit operatively connected with the memory unit and the
detecting module for comparing the default value with the detected value
so as to output a comparing signal; and a control unit operatively
connected with the comparing unit and the power supply units for
adjusting the operation amount of the power supply units in accordance
with the comparing signal.

12. A power management method cooperated with a plurality of computing
units and a plurality of power supply units, comprising the following
steps of: providing power source to the computing units by the power
supply units; detecting a total consumption power of the computing units;
and adjusting the operation amount of the power supply units providing
the power source to the computing units in accordance with the total
consumption power.

13. The power management method according to claim 12, further
comprising: outputting a detecting signal in accordance with the total
consumption power; comparing the detecting signal with a default value to
generate a comparing signal; and adjusting the operation amount of the
power supply units in accordance with the comparing signal.

14. The power management method according to claim 12, further
comprising: detecting the temperature of the computing units; and
adjusting the operation amount of fan modules in accordance with the
temperature of the computing unit.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
§119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 100115143 filed in Taiwan,
Republic of China on Apr. 29, 2011, the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Technology Field

[0003] The disclosure relates to a power management device, a high
performance server and a power management method.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] Referring to FIG. 1A, in the present server S, multiple of power
supply units U are applied with a power management device 1 to provide
the required power to the server S. In this structure, the power
management device 1 converts the outputted voltage from the power supply
units U and provides the converted voltage to the server S.

[0006] The power management device 1 not only converts the voltage but
also monitors the power supply units U if functioning normally or
abnormally. Because that the power supply units U evenly provide the
required power source to the server S, when the server S is under low
power requirement, each power supply unit U would be in low-load status.
However, as shown in FIG. 1B, the operation efficiency of the power
supply units U in low-load or medium-load status is lower than that of
the power supply units U in heavy-load status. In other words, the server
S under lower power requirement would lead to bad conversion efficiency
of the power supply units U and can not satisfy the demands and trends of
environment protection and energy saving for new technologies.

SUMMARY

[0007] A power management device, a high performance server and a power
management method for adjusting the operation amount of power supply
units according to the variation of the power requirement are provided,
thereby raising the power conversion efficiency.

[0008] A power management device is cooperated with a plurality of
computing units and a plurality of power supply units. The power supply
units provide a power source to the computing units through the power
management device. The power management device includes a detecting
module and a control module. The detecting module is operatively
connected with the computing units and detects a total consumption power
of the computing units. The control module is operatively connected with
the detecting module and the power supply units, and adjusts the
operation amount of the power supply units providing the power source to
the computing units in accordance with the total consumption power.

[0009] In one embodiment, each of the computing units comprises a server
main board.

[0010] In one embodiment, the control module comprises a micro control
unit or a micro processor.

[0011] In one embodiment, the detecting module detects the total
consumption power of the computing units and outputs a detecting signal
to the control module.

[0012] In one embodiment, the control module further comprises a memory
unit, a comparing unit and a control unit. The memory unit stores at
least a default value. The comparing unit is operatively connected with
the memory unit and the detecting module for comparing the default value
with the detected value so as to output a comparing signal. The control
unit is operatively connected with the comparing unit and the power
supply units for adjusting the operation amount of the power supply units
in accordance with the comparing signal.

[0013] A high performance server comprises a plurality of computing units,
a plurality of power supply units, and a power management device. The
power supply units are used to provide power source to the computing
units through the power management device. The power management device
comprises a detecting module and a control module. The detecting module
is operatively connected with the computing units for detecting a total
consumption power of the computing units. The control module is
operatively connected with the detecting module and the power supply
units for adjusting the operation amount of the power supply units
providing the power source to the computing units in accordance with the
total consumption power.

[0014] In one embodiment, the high performance server further comprises a
plurality of fan modules operatively connected with the control module of
the power management device. The control module adjusts the operation
amount of the fan modules in accordance with the temperature of the
computing units.

[0015] In one embodiment, each of the computing units comprises a server
main board.

[0016] In one embodiment, the detecting module detects the total
consumption power of the computing units and outputs a detecting signal
to the control module.

[0017] In one embodiment, the control module further comprises a memory
unit, a comparing unit, and a control unit. The memory unit stores at
least a default value. The comparing unit is operatively connected with
the memory unit and the detecting module for comparing the default value
with the detected value so as to output a comparing signal. The control
unit is operatively connected with the comparing unit and the power
supply units for adjusting the operation amount of the power supply units
in accordance with the comparing signal.

[0018] A power management method is cooperated with a plurality of
computing units and a plurality of power supply units. The power
management method comprises the following steps of providing power source
to the computing units by the power supply units; detecting a total
consumption power of the computing units; and adjusting the operation
amount of the power supply units providing the power source to the
computing units in accordance with the total consumption power.

[0019] In one embodiment, the power management method further comprises
the following steps of: outputting a detecting signal in accordance with
the total consumption power; comparing the detecting signal with a
default value to generate a comparing signal; and adjusting the operation
amount of the power supply units in accordance with the comparing signal.

[0020] In one embodiment, the power management method further comprises
the following steps of: detecting the temperature of the computing units;
and adjusting the operation amount of fan modules in accordance with the
temperature of the computing unit.

[0021] In one embodiment, the computing unit comprises a server main
board.

[0022] As mentioned above, the power management device, high performance
server and power management method of the present invention are
configured with the control module for adjusting the operation amount of
the power supply units in accordance with the total consumption power of
the computing units, so as to adjust the operation amount of the power
supply units in accordance with the variation of the power requirement,
thereby raising the power conversion efficiency.

[0023] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the following
description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1A is a schematic graph of a conventional power management
device;

[0025] FIG. 1B is a waveform graph of the load vs. efficiency of the
conventional power management device;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic graph of a power management device according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 3 is another schematic graph of a power management device
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a power management method according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 5 is a schematic graph of a high performance server according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0030]FIG. 6 is another schematic graph of a high performance server
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a power management device 2 according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the power
management device 2 cooperates with a plurality of the computing units C
and a plurality of the power supply units. In practice, the computing
units C can include a server main board. This embodiment is an example
that the power management device 2 cooperates with ten computing units C
and three power supply units U, but the present invention is not limited
to this case.

[0032] In practice, the amounts of the computing units and the power
supply units can vary depending on the design of the product and the
actual requirements.

[0033] The power management device 2 includes a detecting module 21 and a
control module 22. The detecting module 21 is operatively connected with
the computing units C and is used to detect a total consumption power W
of the computing units C. The detecting module 21 outputs the detected
result to the control module 22. The control module 22 is operatively
connected with the detecting module 21 and the power supply units U. The
control module 22 receives the detected result outputted from the
detecting unit 21 and then adjusts the operation amount of the power
supply units U providing the power source to the computing units C in
accordance with the total consumption power W of the computing units C,
and then optimizes the power conversion efficiency of the power supply
units U. In practice, the control module 22 can include a micro control
unit (MCU) or a micro processor.

[0034] Besides, in this embodiment, the control module 22 and the
detecting module 21 are coupled to each other and are separate elements.
However, in practice, the control module 22 can be integrally formed with
the detecting module 21 as a single unit or a single module.

[0035] It is worth mentioned that the power management device 2 also has
the functions of voltage conversion and monitoring the power supply unit
U functioning normally to unusually. Since this feature is not the point
of the present invention, there would be no further description here.

[0036] The power management device 2 of the present invention will be
further described with reference to FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the
control module 22 of the power management device 2 can comprise a memory
unit 221, a comparing unit 222 and a control unit 223.

[0037] The memory unit 221 saves at least one default value V. In this
case, the default value is related to the power value provided by the
power supply units U, for example: the normal rated power or a multiple
of the normal rated power of the power supply units U. The comparing unit
222 is operatively connected with the memory unit 221 and the detecting
module 21. The comparing unit 222 is used to compare the default value V
with the detected signal S1 outputted by the detecting module 21 in
accordance with the total consumption power W of the computing units C
and produce a comparing signal S2. The control unit 223 is
operatively connected with the comparing unit 222 and the power supply
units U and adjusts the operation amount of the power supply units U in
accordance with comparing signal S2.

[0038] In practice, if the normal rated power of each power supply unit U
is 1400 Watt, when the real total consumption power W of the computing
units C detected by the detecting unit 21 exceeds 2800 watt, for example
3000 watt, the control unit 223 of the control module 22 would make each
of the power supply units U in operation status to provide required power
source to the computing units C. If the current total consumption power W
of the computing units C detected by the detecting module 21 is under
2800 Watt, for example 2500 Watt, because that 2500 Watts exceeds the
normal rated power provided by a power supply unit U and is lower than
the normal rated power provided by two power supply units U, the control
unit 223 would turn off one power supply unit U and use two power supply
units U to provide the required power to the computing units C. If the
current total consumption power W is lower that 1400 Watt, the control
unit 223 of the control module 22 would turn off two power supply units U
and use only one power supply unit U to provide the power required to the
computing units C.

[0039] Therefore, because of the hardware structure mentioned above, the
power management device 2 decides the actual required operation amount of
power supply units U in accordance of the total consumption power W of
the computing units C, and then optimizes the power conversion efficiency
of the power supply units U and rises the power conversion efficiency.

[0040] The power management method according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the
flow chart of FIG. 4 in view of the diagrams shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
The power management method is cooperated with the above-mentioned power
management device 2, the plurality of the computing units C, and the
plurality of the power supply units U. The power management method
includes the steps S01 to S03.

[0041] In the step S01, the power supply unit U provides power source to
the computing units C. In this embodiment, the power supply unit U
provides the required power to the computing units C through the power
management device 2. The computing units C include a server main board.

[0042] The step S02 is to detect a total consumption power W of the
computing units C. In this embodiment, the detecting module 21 of the
power management device 2 is operatively connected with the computing
units C, and is used to detect a total consumption power W of the
computing units C. The detecting units 21 can output the detected result
to the control module 22. The computing units C can include a server main
board.

[0043] The step S03 is to adjust the operation amount of the power supply
units U providing the power source to the computing units C in accordance
with the total consumption power W. In this embodiment, the control
module 22 is operatively connected with the detecting module 21 and the
power supply units U, and receives the detected result outputted by the
detecting module 21. Then, the control module 22 adjusts the operation
amount of the power supply units U in accordance with the total
consumption power W of the computing units C.

[0044] In detail, the power management method can further include the
steps of: outputting a detected signal S1 in accordance with the
total consumption power W; comparing the detected signal S1 with a
default value V and producing a comparing signal S2; and adjusting
the operation amount of the power supply units U in accordance with the
comparing signal S2.

[0045] In this embodiment, the memory unit 221 of the control module 22
stores at least one default value V, which is, for example, a normal
rated power or a multiple of the normal rated power of the power supply
units U. The comparing unit 222 of the control module 22 is operatively
connected with the memory unit 221 and the detecting module 21. The
comparing unit 222 is used to compare the default value V with the
detected signal S1 outputted by the detecting module 21 in
accordance with the total consumption power W and produce a comparing
signal S2. The control unit 223 of the control module 22 would
adjust the operation amount of the power supply units U in accordance
with the comparing signal S2, make the power supply units U vary
with the power requirement of the computing units C and optimize the
power conversion efficiency.

[0046]FIG. 5 shows a high performance server 3 according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the high
performance server 3 includes a plurality of the computing units C, a
plurality of the power supply units U and a power management device 2. It
is worth mentioned that the high performance server 3 is not limited to
certain appearance form, for example, the erect server, the rack type
server or the blade type server. The high performance server 3 is also
not limited to its computing capability, such as, file server, database
server or application server. Besides, the computing units C can include
a server main board.

[0047] The power supply units U provides the required power to the
computing units C through the power management device 2. Besides, the
power management device 2 includes a detecting module 21 and a control
module 22. The detecting unit 21 is operatively connected with the
control module 22 and is used to detect a total consumption power W of
the computing units C. The control module 22 is operatively connected
with the detecting module 21 and the power supply units U and adjusts the
operation amount of the power supply units U providing power source to
the computing units C in accordance with the total consumption power W.

[0048] The high performance server 3 of the present invention will be
further described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 6. In this
embodiment, the high performance server 3 can further include a plurality
of the fan modules F. The control module 22 of the power management
device 2 further comprises a memory unit 221, a comparing unit 222 and a
control unit 223.

[0049] The fan module F is operatively connected with the control module
22. In this embodiment, the high performance server 3 has 4 fan modules F
for example. The control unit 223 of the control module 22 adjusts the
operation amount of fan modules F in accordance with the temperature of
the computing units C. In practice, the power management device 2 can
detect the internal temperature of the electronic device E through the
detecting module 21 or sense the temperature by another sensing unit.

[0050] In addition, the memory unit 221 saves at least one default value
V. In this case, the default value is related to the power value provided
by the power supply units U, for example: the normal rated power or a
multiple of the normal rated power of the power supply units U. The
comparing unit 222 is operatively connected with the memory unit 221 and
the detecting module 21 and is used to compare the default value with the
detected signal S1 outputted by the detecting module 21 in
accordance with the total consumption power W of the computing units C
and then produces a comparing signal S2. The control unit 223 is
operatively connected with the comparing unit 222 and the power supply
units U, and adjusts the operation amount of the power supply units U in
accordance with the comparing signal S2.

[0051] Because that parts of the steps of the power management method of
the high performance server 3 are the same as those of the power
management device 2 mentioned above, there would be no further
description on the same steps here. In addition, the power management
method of the high performance server 3 further includes the steps as
following: detecting the temperature of the computing units C; and
adjusting the operation amount of the fan modules F in accordance with
the temperature of the computing units C. In this embodiment, the high
performance server 3 comprises a plurality of the fan modules F to adjust
the temperature of the computing units C. The control unit 223 of the
control module 22 would adjust the operation amount of the fan modules F
in accordance with the temperature of the computing units C to raise the
efficiency of the power supply units U.

[0052] In summary, the power management device, high performance server
and power management method of the present invention are configured with
the control module for adjusting the operation amount of the power supply
units in accordance with the total consumption power of the computing
units, so as to adjust the operation amount of the power supply units in
accordance with the variation of the power requirement, thereby raising
the power conversion efficiency.

[0053] Although the invention has been described with reference to
specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a
limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as
well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in
the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will
cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.